Braintree

Braintree's population expanded in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in religion, housing tenure and work life.

The population reached nearly 150,000

In the 10 years leading up to 2011, the population of Braintree increased by 11%, from about 132,000 to 147,000.

The addition of just under 15,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Braintree was home to, on average, 1.7 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across Eastof England

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across Eastof England, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Braintree

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Braintree increased by three years, from 38 to 41 years.

This rural area had a slightly higher average age than Eastof England and remained slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just over 6,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by just under 3,000.

About 12% of people in Braintree are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Braintree

The percentage of Braintree residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 2.5% to 3.3% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.9%, while the percentage of Braintree residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 91% to 90%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.7% in 2001 to 3.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Braintree

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 32% said they had no religion. An increase from 18% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Braintree.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of people who described themselves as having no religion increased from 18% to 30%, while across England the percentage went from 16% to 27%.

Around 66% of those who disclosed their religion in Braintree said they were Christian, down from 80% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, up from 0.0% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation fell from 8.3% to 7.7% between the last two censuses.

In Braintree, 7.7% chose not to disclose their religious affiliation. In East the percentage was 7.8% and across England the percentage was 7.7%.

The population without a religion in Braintree increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Braintree at a faster rate than in Uttlesford (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Braintree).

In Braintree, the proportion of private renting increased from 6.7% in 2001 to 13% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Uttlesford increased from 9.4% to 13%.

Across Eastof England, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.6% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Braintree fell from 19% to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 72% to 69%.

Private renting in Braintree increased by 6.6 percentage points

Percentage of households in Braintree, Eastof England and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Braintree working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16% to 12% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.6%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.6% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 15% in 2001 to 11% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Braintree decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Braintree, Eastof England and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Braintree residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 7.0% to 4.4% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 72% in 2001. The percentage of Braintree residents that described their health as fair decreased from 21% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 7.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Braintree decreased by 2.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Braintree, Eastof England and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Braintree, which comprised a single parent, increased from 7.9% to 9.8% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (39%) households had a married couple, compared with 43% in 2001. The percentage of households in Braintree, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 8.1% in 2001 to 9.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

More adults are separated from partners

The percentage of adults in Braintree that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11% to 12% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over one in two (52%) people aged 16 and over said they were married, compared with 56% in 2001. The percentage of single people in Braintree increased from 25% to 29%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 10% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner was higher than across Eastof England

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they had divorced or broken up with a married or civil partner across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Braintree

In 2011, 97% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Braintree.

Across Eastof England, the percentage of residents from the White ethnic groups fell from 95% to 90%, while across England the percentage went from 91% to 85%.

Around 1.4% of people in Braintree said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, up from 0.7% in 2001. About 1.3% said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), up from 0.7% 10 years prior.

The percentage of residents from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups rose from 0.3% to 0.6% between the last two censuses.

The population from the White ethnic groups in Braintree decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Braintree residents that were unemployed increased from 2.3% to 3.8% in the decade to 2011.

In 2011, just under 6 in 10 (56%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 57% in 2001. The percentage of Braintree residents that were self-employed increased from 11% to 12%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 2.6% in 2001 to 3.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Braintree increased by 1.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Braintree, Eastof England and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

The percentage of Braintree residents that provided at least 50 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.7% to 2.1% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported providing between 20 and 49 hours of unpaid care each week remained close to 0.8%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (from 1.8% in 2001 to 2.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 2.1% to 2.4%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Braintree remained close to 2.1%

Percentage of usual residents in England, East and Braintree by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Braintree without children remained close to 60% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage that had at least one dependent child remained close to 31%, while the percentage of households in Braintree with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.5% to 9.8%.

The proportion of households without children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of Eastof England (which remained close to 61%). Across England, the percentage remained close to 61%.

The proportion of households without children was lower than across Eastof England

Percentage of households without children across local authority areas in Eastof England and the average across England, March 2011

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